Delilah's Evil Plan Part 3

By Mary Vee
Judges 16

From Delilah's Journal

Samson tricked me last night. He said seven bowstrings could make him as weak as any other man.  It didn't work. 

When I showed him how he hurt my feelings he told me what would really bind him. He said, "If they bind me securely with new ropes that have never been used, then I will be as weak as any man."


A messenger stopped by at noon to deliver the new ropes. "The Philistine lord wanted me to remind you to tie these ropes securely. He also wanted to remind you of the eleven hundred pieces of silver you would earn."


I grabbed the ropes from his hands. "I know. I know. I don't need you to nag me."


He growled. "Yeah, well, make sure you do the job right this time."


I closed the door before he could say another word. How dare he speak to me like that?  He was only a messenger.  I grumbled a few more words then went to the kitchen to prepare another of Samson's favorite meals.

Before Samson arrived, the Philistine lords knocked on my door. "Let us in. We'll hide in the same place as we did last night."


"All right. All right. Don't get pushy."I opened the door and let them slip through to the back room.


Shortly after I finished making supper, Samson came to my house. He stopped for a moment, took a deep breath, and closed his eyes. "Yum, I smell the most delicious meal cooking. I'm so hungry I could eat a whole lion."

"Samson. I made this dish just for you." I held the door open for him. "Come in. Your food is ready." 


He finished the first plate I served him then ate three extra helpings. He sat back and patted his stomach. "Excellent. I couldn't eat another bite!" He yawned. "Your--good cooking--makes me sleepy."


I pushed his head back on the chair. "There now. Feel free to take a rest." 


He closed his eyes and snored before he could say another word. A few moments later, I dropped a dish to test him. He slept soundly.  


I pulled the new ropes out from the hiding place and tied them securely around his arms and legs. Next, I pulled on the knots to test their strength. Yup, tight as a drum skin.


I stepped back like I did the last time and shouted, "The Philistines are attacking you, Samson!"


He leaped to his feet and broke the new ropes as if they were thin threads.  Great. Now what?


Anger boiled in my blood. He tricked me again.  How many times would the Philistine lords let me try to bind Samson? How many times could I talk Samson into sleeping after dinner?

I pushed my hands on my hips and squinted. "All you've done is mocked me and told lies. Come on, Samson, tell me the truth. What could bind you?


He smiled at me like I was a little girl having a temper tantrum which only made me angrier.


He set his hands on my shoulders and sighed. "All right, Delilah. If you weave the seven locks of my head into the web of the loom I will become as weak as any man."


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Well, did it work? Come back to read what happened next.


1.  What did Delilah want to do?
2.  Why was she bothered in the beginning of today's story?
3.  How did Delilah bind Samson in this story?
4.  What happened?
5.  What new way did Samson tell Delilah to try?
6.  In part one of this story, Samson said, "If they bind me with.." who was he talking about?
7.  In part two of this story, Samson said, "If they bind me with..." who was he talking about this time?
8.  In part three (today's story), what did Samson say different?  Why?


Photo courtesy of Christianimageresource.com

Delilah's Evil Plan Part 2

By Mary Vee
Judges 16

From Delilah's Journal

Samson went out into my village for the day. 

While he did his errands I sneaked to the house of one of the Philistine lords and told him what Samson said. "If we bind him with seven fresh bowstrings, not yet dried, then he'll become weak like any other man."


The man nodded. "You'll have the bowstrings before noon. Once you've tied him up shout a signal for us to come. We'll hide in your house before he arrives." Then he shut the door.


At noon, a messenger brought the fresh strings. I hid them in the kitchen. Samson arrived at my house at dinner time. I cooked one of his favorite meals. He ate three extra portions then yawned. 

I smoothed his hair to make it flow down the outside of his chair. "Close your eyes and rest, Samson."


He yawned and closed his eyes. Moments later he snored. I made a sound with a dish to test if he slept deeply. He didn't move.  


I pulled the seven fresh bowstrings out from the hiding place and used them to tie him to the chair. When I finished, I tested the strength of my knots.  Perfect!


I stepped back from him and shouted, "The Philistines are attacking you, Samson!"  


He bolted to a standing position snapping the bowstrings like yarn when it touched fire. The strings fell to the floor. 

Samson looked at the floor and laughed. He held his stomach and laughed some more. "My dear, Delilah. You tied me with these little pieces of yarn?" He sat down and laughed again. "Aww, don't cry." 


I didn't know what to do.  What would the Philistine lords do to me?  Tears flowed down my cheeks. I couldn't stop sobbing. "You've mocked me, Samson. How could you lie to me?" I wiped my face with my sleeve but couldn't stop sobbing. "Please, dear Samson, tell me, what could bind you?"


He laughed once more then cleared his throat. "All right, my dear. I'll tell you. If they bind me securely with new ropes that have never been used, then I will become as weak as any other man."


He yawned. "Enough of these games."


When Samson left. the Philistine lords crept out of the house. "Well bring you new ropes at noon tomorrow. Let's hope they work, for your sake."

I closed the door behind them.


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Come back to read what happens next.


1. Who is Delilah?
2. Who wanted to hurt Samson?
3. What did the Philistine lords bring to Delilah? Why?
4. Where did the Philistine lords hide? Why?
5. What happened when Delilah shouted, "The Philistines are attacking you, Samson!"
6. What question did Delilah ask when Samson laughed? Why?
7. Why did the Philistines want to hurt Samson?